Remembering SOPHIE
It’s been almost two months since we’ve lost the legendary producer, SOPHIE, in a tragic accident that took place at her home in Athens, Greece. SOPHIE was only 34 when she accidentally fell off her balcony while trying to get a better glimpse at the full moon in the sky on January 30, 2021. When the news broke of SOPHIE’s death my socials were flooded with condolences from all of my favorite artists and DJs. At the time I had no clue who SOPHIE was, nor had I listened to any of her work before, or so I thought. Intrigued, I decided to give her music a listen and was instantly hooked by her futuristic electronic songs. It was different from anything I had ever listened to before, and I found myself wanting to know more about the British producer.
SOPHIE first broke out onto the European club scene in the early 2010s with house-adjacent singles like “Nothing More to Say,” and the stark and disembodied track ‘Bipp’ which received international acclaim. SOPHIE brought a tactile twist on pop with singles like ‘Lemonade’ and ‘Hard’ which were mixed with distinctive vocals and abrasive sound designs. In 2014, SOPHIE collaborated with P.C. music founder A.G. Cook and Quinn Thomas, on QT’s ‘Hey QT,’ which was filled with euphoric hooks. The 2015 compilation album PRODUCT is a collection of all these singles, but also included new ones like the innovative track ‘Just Like We Never Said Goodbye’. In 2018, SOPHIE released her debut album Oils of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, which featured SOPHIE’s own vocals. The album has been hailed as a landmark of forwarding pop music even earning a nomination in 2019 for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the Grammys.
SOPHIE’s influence on pop and electronic music stems not only from her solo work but her expansive collaborative discography as well. SOPHIE has produced music for both underground artists as well as A-list ones such as Charli XCX, Vince Staples, Lady Gaga, and 100 Gecs. SOPHIE produced the entirety of Charli XCX’s 2016 EP Vroom Vroom, which was the follow up to her commercially successful album Sucker. After her boyfriend had shown her SOPHIE’s “Lemonade,” Charli invited the producer on a writing trip to Sweden where Vroom Vroom was born. On the EP, SOPHIE’s innovative and limitless production collides with Charli’s natural feel for pop melody, marking a new chapter in Charli’s career.
Fans were both confused and excited as they tried to process what they had just heard. Charli had finally risen to commercial fame and this new EP she had presented contained music so innovative and foreign that radio would never touch it. The EP was ahead of its time and had envisioned a future for pop, but some people found it difficult to see and understand where Charli and Sophie were heading. It’s been five years since the EP’s release and people’s attitudes have changed since then, learning to appreciate Vroom Vroom for the beauty that it is. In an interview with VOGUE Charli said “I felt like I finally found someone who could articulate my ideas sonically,” when asked about working with SOPHIE.
Despite the initial resistance to the EP, Charli continued to move forward with her newfound sound. SOPHIE had helped push Charli to find herself and create the music she had been wanting to create for years. Upon learning of SOPHIE’s death Charli released a statement on her Instagram expressing her grief for the beloved producer and friend.
Together, Charli and SOPHIE marked a new era of experimental pop known as Hyperpop. The term Hyperpop was first coined by a Spotify playlist, and is the umbrella term used to describe pop music that is pushing boundaries with its sticky pop-melodies and innovative beats. The playlist now has over 150,000 monthly listeners and includes other artists like Rico Nasty, Vince Staples, and 100 Gecs to name a few.
SOPHIE’s production has not only pushed the boundaries of pop music but Hip-Hop as well. In 2016, while on a tour of Australia opening up for Flume, SOPHIE and Vince Staples had been introduced. It was SOPHIE who had invited Staples to join her in the studio, telling him “I have something for you,” and then played “Yeah Right,” which would later be featured on his album Big Fish Theory. Staples said in an interview with Rolling Stone that SOPHIE had encouraged his music to demand attention from other people just the way hers had. Staples also said that their friendship was beyond just music. When learning of her death Staples posted a photo of them from when they had been together in New Orleans.
“I’ve seen Sophie around a dozen sessions, around different kinds of people, different genres, different races, different backgrounds, and she was never afraid. I never saw her once afraid to be who she was, to wear what she wanted, to say what she wanted, to play what she wanted. Not once. I think that’s the most important takeaway: You don’t have to be afraid. Producers, musicians, trans people, people all over, no matter who you are, to be honest — I don’t care who you are, that’s something you could take something from. You don’t have to be fearful.” - Vince Staples remembering SOPHIE via Rolling Stone.
SOPHIE was somewhat of a mysterious figure early on in her career, only appearing in blurry photos behind the decks. In 2017, she released the video for “It’s Okay to Cry” marking the first time she internationally appeared in photographs or videos, while also coming out as transgender. Since then she has been considered an Icon amongst the LGBTQA+ community. Transness was an essential part of SOPHIE’s futurism, reconciling binaries from male and female, being and becoming, and questions and answers, in order to pursue a more perfect world.
“For me, Transness is taking control to bring your body more in line with your soul and spirit so the two aren’t fighting against each other and struggling to survive,” she said in an interview with Paper.
SOPHIE was fearless and demanded attention in everything that she did, but especially with her music and art. She pushed for a world free of stigmas and judgement where people are free to be whoever they chose to be. She encouraged everyone through her art and futuristic style to push the boundaries of their work. Her futuristic style wasn’t just an aesthetic, but a push for empathy, and a push for everyone to become a better version of their true selves. It’s sad to think that her tragic death is what finally brought me to her music, but I will continue to appreciate her music, innovation, and message in my own life and work.
Here are some of my favorite SOPHIE songs as well as my favorite songs that she has produced, you should definitely give her a listen:
“Vroom Vroom” by Charli XCX
“LEMONADE” by SOPHIE
“745 sticky” by 100 Gecs
“Yeah Right” by Vince Staples
“Hot Pink” by Let’s Eat Grandma
“Bitch I’m Madonna” by Madonna and Nicki Minaj
“JUST LIKE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE” by SOPHIE
“Lipgloss (featuring CupCakKe)” by Charli XCX
“Ponyboy” by SOPHIE
“Voices” by Flume featuring KUCKA & SOPHIE
“Hey QT” by QT
“SAMO” by Vince Staples
“MSMSMSM” by SOPHIE
“HARD” by SOPHIE
“It’s Okay to Cry” by SOPHIE
Image via Fader’s Instagram